Boyz 'N The Hood
and
Menace II Society
A Comparison Of Two Films
"I've gone too far to go back and too far to go on" was one
of the most powerful lines in "Menace II Society". It represents the
thinking of many of the characters in the movies "Boyz N the Hood"
and "Menace II Society" who were caught up in the endless cycle of
city violence. Actions of characters in both films are directly affected by
the people they encounter who act as role models for the developing youths.
The violent surroundings they lived and grew up in were difficult to escape
and made survival harder as time went on. In each movie, the way role models
influenced characters' decisions involving violence is represented very
differently. Movies based upon themes of the importance of role models, rely
on the fact that role models are needed because "conditions in certain
inner cities are hazardous to a child's physical health, mental health, and
social adjustment" (Uehara 779). Because it depicts the effects of
positive role models on youth in black America, "Boyz N the Hood" is
a better movie than "Menace II Society".
Directed by Allen and Albert Hughes, "Menace II Society" chronicles
the violent summer of 1993 experienced by new high school graduate Caine and a
group of friends living in Watts, California. Caine (orphaned years ago when his
father was killed and his drug addict mother died of an overdose) lives with his
grandparents, devout Christians whose beliefs he rejects. From the opening
scene, when a friend, O-Dog, murders two store clerks, Caine's summer is filled
with violence. Human life has little value, as even petty disputes lead to
cold-blooded murder. Caine not only learns street values embedded in a
distortion of the word "respect" but also does nothing to gain
respect. To him and his friends respect is only intimidation because of fear
("Menace II Society").
"Boyz N the Hood" is a film about a group of black teenagers in
South Central L.A. The main character, Tre, is a 17-year-old on the verge of
going to college. He hangs out with his best friend, Ricky, a teenage parent who
hopes to win a football scholarship. Both boys are brought down to reality by
their dangerous surroundings and by the actions of Ricky's brother and
ex-convict, Doughboy. Meanwhile, Tre's divorced father struggles to rescue his
son from the violence and negative influences that surround him from all sides
("Boyz N the Hood"). Boyz N the Hood is a better movie because the
effects of positive role models are seen through the portrayal of violence,
crime, and family values.
Although "Menace II Society" looks at the development of the street
criminal, the regular scenes of violence often take place without meaning.
Constant scenes of gunplay appear throughout the film and only seem to fulfill
an entertainment aspect without presenting a strong message. For example, Caine
turns to violence after his cousin is killed and murders another teenager. Caine
is driven to these actions because he has grown up with violence all around him
and was never taught otherwise. Even at a very young age he saw his own father
murder another man in his home. After committing murder, Caine only realizes
that taking another person's life did not make him strong as he thought it
would.
On the other hand, constant scenes of violence are not seen throughout "Boyz
N the Hood" because of the effect of positive role models. Violence is
delayed until the viewers learn more about the characters and develop sympathy
and feelings for them. In this way, violence is portrayed in a more meaningful
and emotional way rather than just for entertainment. Director John Singleton
says that when he depicts violence he is "making you feel something, when
somebody dies or something happens you feel something-and I think that's more
disturbing than killing a hundred people in a film" ("It's not just
black and white" 1). For example, Tre attempts to stay away from violence
because his father has taught him many values. Near the end of the movie when
Ricky is killed, Tre eventually decides not to use violence because of his
father's influence.
Another aspect in which both movies engage, is crime. In "Menace II
Society", characters are often involved with various types of crimes, but
few repercussions follow these actions. An illustration of thoughtless crime is
best seen when O-Dog robs a convenience store and kills two clerks. Again, role
models do not teach him otherwise which is apparent from his attitude. O-Dog
kills without conscience; he enjoys replaying the security camera videotape of
his murder to his friends and thinks that it is humorous. Also deprived of
values, Caine turns to crime and steals rather than working for what he wants.
However, in "Boyz N the Hood", crime is seen much differently.
Characters without role models (Doughboy) go to juvenile hall as children and
eventually prison for committing crimes. Tre, on the contrary, stays away from
trouble such as drugs and alcohol because of the strong influence his father has
been. His father teaches him about respect and responsibility when Tre is a
child by making him do chores while other children have no one to teach them.
Most importantly, each movie is separate in its handling of family values.
Throughout "Menace II Society", there are no positive role models to
teach younger generations about values. Cain's father sold drugs, his mother was
a heroin addict, and their friends were ex-convicts. All of the younger
gangsters, including Caine, look up to a friend who was imprisoned for murder.
Therefore, it is no surprise that when he becomes older he also turns to drugs
and crime. For instance, Caine went to jail for attempting to steal a car, and
he robs people at gun-point throughout the movie.
However, family values are displayed more effectively in "Boyz N the
Hood". Because he lives with his moralistic father, Tre learns many values
which in turn affect his actions during the entire movie. For example, his
father teaches him that anyone can have a baby, but only a real man can raise
his children. As a result, Tre is reluctant to have sex because he understands
the responsibilities involved in having children. His actions are altered by
having a positive role model whom he respects throughout the movie. This respect
is obvious when Tre admits that he rarely lies to his father.
By examining role models and their effects on violence, crime, and family
values, "Boyz N the Hood" conveys a much deeper message on how the
problem of black youth violence should be solved. In the end it appears that the
only message portrayed by "Menace II Society" is how a child is
transformed into a gang criminal. Unfortunately, Hollywood gangster films often
only attempt to "ironically chart the end of the lower-class ethnic family
from which gangsters are seen to derive" (Winokur 12). While containing
more action than "Boyz N the Hood", "Menace II Society"
fails to present a message of how we should solve the problems of gangs, crime,
violence, and drugs.
However, these movies do allow viewers to see the obvious cause of the cycle
of violence in the inner city. No alternatives are presented in "Menace II
Society". This allows the film to be told in one summer because we know the
end result of immediate violence, death. In "Boyz N the Hood", the
story takes place over several years in order to demonstrate the long-term
effects of raising children with values. These effects caused by positive role
models are best seen by noticing that characters in "Menace II
Society" are quick to solve problems with violence, while characters in
"Boyz N the Hood" look to the future before making decisions.
According to Marian Wright Edelman, "It is time for parents and preachers
and teachers and community leaders to fill the huge moral and guidance vacuum
with time, attention and positive alternatives to the streets" (4).
Therefore, until positive role models are more common, the cycle of inner city
violence will be very difficult to end.
Works Cited
"Boyz N the Hood." Cinemania 96. 1st ed. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation, 1995.
Edelman, Marian Wright. "We must not lose what we knew was right then." Ebony Nov 1995: 5 pp. Online. Internet. 27 Feb. 1996
"It's not just black and white." Tharunka Online 3 pp. Online.
Internet. 27 Feb. 1997
"Menace II Society." Cinemania 96. 1st ed. CD-ROM. Microsoft
Corporation, 1995.
Uehara, Edwina S. "African American Youth Encounters With
Violence." Journal of Black Studies July 1996: 768-781
Winokur, Mark. "Eating Children Is Wrong." Sight and Sound Nov
1991: 10-13
